Tim "Herb"
Alexander performing with Primus in 2005
Alexander performing with Primus in 2005
Background information
Birth nameTimothy Wayne Alexander
Also known as"Herb"
Born (1965-04-10) April 10, 1965
Cherry Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, Abstract Artist
Instrument(s)Drums, Guitar
Years active1985–present
Labels
Member ofPrimus
Formerly ofA Perfect Circle

Timothy Wayne Alexander (born April 10, 1965), also credited as "Herb" Alexander, is an American musician best known as the drummer for the rock band Primus.[1] Alexander has played on the majority of Primus's discography, including some of the band's most well known albums such as Frizzle Fry (1990), Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991), Pork Soda (1993) and Tales from the Punchbowl (1995). Alexander has been in the band across three stints; he initially left the band in 1996 and rejoined in 2003 before leaving again in 2010 and re-joining in 2013.

Outside of Primus, Alexander launched online drum school, Stick Academy, in Dec 2023 and has played in several projects with Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan including the bands Puscifer and A Perfect Circle, and also played in the theatrical performance art group Blue Man Group. Alexander has been hailed for his "polyrhythmic" playing and is most recently making waves in the art world with his massive works of abstract art.[2][3]

Biography

Before Primus, Alexander played and recorded with Major Lingo, which at the time was a ska-based rhythm band that featured a lap steel guitar as the lead instrument, played by Tony Bruno.

Alexander got the job with Primus replacing Jay Lane (along with Larry LaLonde who replaced Todd Huth)[4] in 1988, and lasted until 1996. Alexander's second stint with Primus was from early 2003 until approximately 2009 when he was replaced by Jay Lane. Les Claypool spoke of Alexander's playing in an interview with Bass Player: "[He] is a very precise player. Even when we're really stretching on something, you can rarely tell that we're still a band that doesn't rehearse much. And a huge part of that is because of Tim".[5]

Following Alexander's departure from Primus, he went on to form his own group, Laundry, which released on Claypool's label Prawn Song Records.[6] Alexander has also collaborated with experimental bass player Michael Manring and guitarist Alex Skolnick to form the group known as Attention Deficit.

Alexander was the first drummer of A Perfect Circle, performing early live shows with the band, and recording drums for the track "The Hollow" on the band's debut album, Mer de Noms.

Alexander joined the theatrical group Blue Man Group, and has occasionally played with the Las Vegas-based improvisational rock band Überschall.

Despite being primarily known for his drum work Alexander is also a guitarist and singer. He performed live guitar with the group Born Naked and held the lead vocal duties on Laundry's second album, Motivator, and supporting tour.

Alexander was involved throughout 2008–2009 in a project known as Into the Presence which features songs by Luis Carlos Maldonado. Their debut album was released on Razor and Tie Records and includes performances from bassist Paz Lenchantin and cellist Ana Lenchantin. Both into The Presence and the Fata Morgana release were recorded and produced at Alexander's own Ghost Town Studios.

As of 2010 Alexander is actively involved as a member of Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer project. He has toured with them and can be heard on their most recent released recordings.

On September 25, 2013, Rolling Stone announced via an interview with Claypool that Alexander would be rejoining Primus, with a possible recording session taking place as early as November. Previous drummer Jay Lane would be moving on to other projects including his former band Ratdog.[7]

On July 18, 2014, Alexander suffered a heart attack, and underwent open heart surgery.[8] Primus updated Alexander's health status on July 21 with a Facebook post stating, "The Mighty Tim "Herb" Alexander has pulled through surgery, the blockage from his heart has been removed with no complications and all signs point to a glorious and speedy recovery." He rejoined Primus for their "Primus and the Chocolate Factory" tour 3 months later on October 22, 2014.

Alexander's drumming influences include Ron Tutt, Rayford Griffin, Neil Peart, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Bill Bruford, Alex van Halen, Lars Ulrich, Danny Carey, Vinnie Paul, and world music drummers.

Alexander operated a cider company out of Bellingham, Wa, called Herb's Cider.[9] It ceased trading in late 2021.

Primus

Laundry

  • Blacktongue (1994)
  • Motivator (1999)

A Perfect Circle

Attention Deficit

  • Attention Deficit (1998)
  • The Idiot King (2001)

Michael Manring

  • Thonk (1994) (Drums on "Big Fungus", "Disturbed", and "Bad Hair Day")

Fata Morgana

  • This Is A Dream (2005)

Puscifer

Into the Presence

Net of Indra

  • Net of Indra (2018) (Drums, gongs, bells and bowls)

Various

  • Flyin' Traps (1997)
  • Drum Nation Vol. 1 (2004)

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Prato, Greg. "Biography: Primus". AllMusic. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  2. ↑ Woods, Karen (July 1993). "Primus". Spin. p. 45. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R. (November 2003). "In My Room". CMJ New Music Monthly. p. 13. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Madsen, Pete (2006). Funk Guitar and Bass: Know the Players, Play the Music. Hal Leonard. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-87930-894-0.
  5. ↑ Jisi, Chris (2008). Bass Player Presents The Fretless Bass. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-377-0.
  6. ↑ Robbins, Ira A. (1997). The Trouser Press guide to '90s rock: the all-new fifth edition of The Trouser Press record guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 579. ISBN 978-0-684-81437-7.
  7. ↑ ^ Prato, Greg. "Q&A: Les Claypool on Primus' Future and His TV Show With Dean Ween". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Puscifer on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Herb's Cider – Hard Ciders | Bellingham WA".
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